Yesterday evening around 5:20PM, officers from District A-7 (East Boston) arrested suspects, Derek KIRKLAND, 24, of Mattapan and charged him with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Dangerous Weapons Unlawfully Carried, and Possession of Class D. Officers also arrested suspects, Jamaal KENNEDY, 23, of Milton and charged him with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and dangerous Weapons Unlawfully Carried.

Officers conducted a traffic stop of the car that the suspects were driving based on a previous broadcast of a stolen car that provided the description of the suspects’ car along with the plate number. Prior to the car coming to a stop, officers activated their lights and sirens in order to effect a traffic stop but the suspect motor vehicle failed to stop, only stopping when their path was blocked by stopped traffic.

Officers approached the stopped car, and directed the operator to turn off the car based on their attempt to elude officers and the prior broadcast of the car having been stolen. Officers informed the occupants of the reason for the traffic stop, that being that the car had been reported stolen. The operator told officers that the car belonged to his girlfriend and that she had borrowed from a friend who rented it.

Both occupants were removed from the car and taken into custody based on the prior broadcast. One of the suspects, Kirkland, admitted to officers that he had some marijuana in his pocket. An inventory search was performed on the car during which officers recovered a loaded firearm in the trunk of the vehicle, along with several other evidentiary items. Neither of the suspects had a license to carry a firearm and as such both were arrested, charged with the above offenses and taken to the district station.

On arrival to the district station, officers then learned that the victim who had reported the earlier broadcast was at the station. Officers spoke to the victim who then further elaborated on what had taken place earlier. The victim reported that he had placed an advertisement on Craig’s List and that he was contacted by someone who was interested in buying the car. The victim further stated that he agreed to meet with the perspective buyer to test drive the car. The victim reported that he met with the perspective buyer and his friend, the two above listed suspects, who test drove the car and stated that they wanted to buy the car.

The victim and suspects drove to a London Street to finish the transaction and he got in the car with the suspects while he completed the paperwork. Per the victim, the suspects gave him and envelope with money and he handed over the title to his car. The victim, however once he opened the envelope, noticed that the agreed upon amount of money was not in the envelope. The victim then tried to get his title back from the suspect at which time the suspect sitting beside him punched him in the arm, exited his car and attempted to get in the victim’s car and drive away.

The keys to the car were still fortunately in the victim’s pocket and as the victims fled in their own car with the victim’s title in their possession. The victim was able to call 911 and provide a description of the suspects, their car and the registration number. The suspects were then booked and charged with the above offenses.